Food contamination and disruption article

Most companies that make up the national food supply chain operate interdependently. Any slow-down in the food production processes can echo throughout the industry as food plants and distribution networks feel the effects of occurrences that may have happened days or months earlier—the disruption results in price hikes, affecting people’s life in general.

Any attempts to shut down enormous distribution enterprises create an unbearable condition that provides cybercriminals with an advantage. The urgency for these companies to move swiftly and solve the problem usually works in favour of the criminals.
A solution to preventing cyber threats.
Some critical steps should be embraced in an attempt to resolve some of the issues regarding cyber threats. The food infrastructure sector should consider cyber security training. This more effective measure equips employees with the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent cyber threats. The vast majority of attacks are usually through emails. Employees’ extra vigilance in detecting these possible threats will go a long way in preventing related cyber-attacks. Backing up data will also help prevent any losses arising from cyberattacks.

The criminals usually lock out producers from their business systems, preventing them from conducting business operations. In addition, the companies can practice network segmentation. Dividing business from production and splitting them into smaller bits will help improve the managers and increase the efficiency of security. Some of the company’s infrastructure can be isolated if unsuspicious access is detected on the network system. Encryption will allow only those with access to the systems to gain access and lock out unqualified personnel. This creates a sense of accountability due to the limited number of individuals granted access.

Food contamination and Disruption
Contamination of food refers to how food has been perverted biologically, physically or chemically. Some cases of contaminated food have specified that product quality risk is one of the significant vulnerabilities in the global supply chain. Various businesses have hit the food industry in the past, causing an implication in their reputation and business performance. Contaminated food in the U.S.A. is responsible for 50 million illnesses,130,000 hospitalizations and over 4000 deaths. This has caused the Nation roughly over 15 billion dollars in a year. In response to curbing reduced productivity, medical coverage, deaths and chronic ailments. Extremists and militia groups contemplate the Americas food sector as a target for poisoning the food supply, which has massive potential to cause adverse economic losses in the supply chain for affected foodstuffs, citizen panic and even health implications. It is, however, important to note that food contamination can occur in two ways; the first is accidental contamination.